Description

The surprise decision expressed by the British people in the referendum held in June 2016 to leave the European Union was remarkable. It also presents a "natural experiment" where the exposure of a society to an extraordinary event allows scholars to observe, in real time in the real world, the interaction of variables.

The Routledge Handbook of the Politics of Brexit takes stock of what we know in the social science community about the Brexit phenomenon so far and looks to make sense of this remarkable process as it unfolds. The book asks simple questions across a range of areas and topics so as to frame the debate into a number of navigable "subdiscussions", providing structure and form to what is an evolving and potentially inchoate topic. As such, it provides a systematic account of the background for, the content of, and the possible implications of Brexit.

The handbook therefore does not examine in detail the minutiae of Brexit as it unfolds on a day-to-day basis but raises its sights to consider both the broad contextual factors that shape and are shaped by Brexit and the deeper sources and implications of the British exit from the European Union. Importantly, as interest in Brexit reaches far beyond the shores of the United Kingdom, so an international team of contributors examines and reveals the global implications and the external face of Brexit.

The Routledge Handbook of the Politics of Brexit will be essential reading and an authoritative reference for scholars, students, researchers and practitioners involved in and actively concerned about research on Brexit, British politics, European Union politics, and comparative politics and international relations.

Reviews

"Wow! Almost nothing about Brexit is clear - and that makes this an extraordinary and extraordinarily useful collection. For it contains both all that there is to know about Brexit and all that we need to make sense of it - insofar, that is, as there is sense to be made of it. A wonderful achievement and very highly recommended." - Colin Hay, Professor of Political Science, Sciences Po, Paris.

"This is a wide ranging, informative, and up-to-date survey of Brexit and its implications for the United Kingdom, for the European Union, and for countries beyond. Each of the twenty-four chapters provides a state-of-the-art contribution that summarizes the current state of knowledge for students and experts alike." - Gary Marks, Burton Craige Distinguished Professor, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Robert Schuman Fellow, EUI, Florence.

"British exit from the European Union has become the defining issue for the UK today. This insightful text tells you everything you need to know, and might not even have known to ask, from the inside and the outside. Remarkable not only for the range of topics considered but also for the depth of analysis of its stellar list of contributors, this book is the indispensable guide to Brexit." - Vivien A. Schmidt, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration, Boston University, USA.

"Brexit is a process rather than an event, which has implications which go far beyond the UK itself. With its excellent team of authors this book provides a broad, comprehensive and insightful account of the many different contexts, issues and dilemmas associated with the decision and its consequences. It will be an indispensable source for all students of Brexit." - Andrew Gamble, Emeritus Professor of Politics, University of Cambridge and Professorial Fellow, University of Sheffield, UK.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction [Patrick Diamond, Peter Nedergaard and Ben Rosamond]

PART I: Brexit from the Inside

2. Brexit and the State of the United Kingdom [Daniel Wincott]

3. Brexit and the Irish Case [Mary Murphy]

4. Brexit and Scotland [Michael Keating]

5. Brexit and the City of London [Leila Simona Talani]

6. Brexit and the Future Model of British Capitalism [Andrew Baker and Scott Lavery]

7. Brexit and British Trade Policy [Jed Odermatt]

8. Brexit and Agricultural Policy [Wyn Grant]

9. Brexit and Higher Education and Research [Anne Corbett and Claire Gordon]